La gunguna

La Gunguna is a gun with a fascinating history. Everyone wants to get their hands on it, but perhaps they shouldn't?

This is a classic anthology film, where a simple object ties the stories together and advances the narrative. The significant difference here is that the episodes do not unfold in chronological order but follow a different logic – a logic that becomes clear as the story progresses and requires the viewer to compose their own connections. Cleverly, the director also weaves in sharp criticism of the social differences on the island, simultaneously telling a story that is both dramatic, brutally entertaining, and darkly humorous. Not the easiest balancing act to pull off, but Alemany executes this feat with skill. The Caribbean Tarantino?

La Gunguna caused a sensation in the Dominican Republic when first-time director Ernesto Alemany presented it in 2015. It swept the Iris Dominicana Movie Awards in 2016 with a total of 15 well-deserved prizes. Additionally, the film became a political lightning rod with its criticism of the former dictatorship and its connections to European fascism.

Cinemateket in Oslo

Director

Ernesto Alemany has a background in advertising films and music videos. He made his debut as a feature film director with La Gunguna (2015) and has since directed three other films: Loki 7 (2016), La Musiquita por Dentro (2019), and El Humor en los Tiempos del Covid (2022).

This film is part of